New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-02-10
OPPOSING HIGH LICENSE.
A QUEER ALLIANCE AGAINST THE BILL.
LIoUoR-DEALERs AND PRoHIBrTIoNIsrs ON THE
SAME SIDE OF THE FENCE.
fpY n rITET

| DAME SlDE OF The FENCE
| tBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRrBUNE.I
ALBANY, Feb 9.-The spectacle was presented this az
ternoon OF the chairman Of the Prohibition State Commit
tee and the president OF the State LIQUOR Dealers Asso
citation unitedly opposing the New-York and Brooklyn
high license BILL Frederick A. Wheeler and Miles Glib
bons did not seem In the least disturbed by their strange
alliance, but every one else appeared amazed Mr.
wheeler had also brought with him to oppose the bill the
rev. stephen Merritt OF NewYork, Mrs. Mary A. Wood
pridge president OF the Womans Christian Unonot Ohio,
John W. stearns, OF Brooklyn, leading officer OF the
Good Tempars Society," and Railroad Commissioner John
oDonnel OF Lowvllle. Mr. Gibbons on the part Of the
liquor dealers was assisted by Charles A. stadler Of
New-fork, Henry L. Gregg. Of Hudson, Edward Under
hi OF fonkers and Gerhard Lang and Moses Hayes OF
Bualo who represented specifically the State Brewers
and Maltsters Associations. The hotel dealers Of New
York were represented In opposition to the bill by ex
Assemblyman James Oliver The hearing before the
Assembly Excise Committee. curious feature OF the
speeches was the difference OF opinion between the beer
brewers and the of the whskey dlsteries con-
corning the bill This condition Of affairs led Mr. Gibbons
to make the refreshing disclosure that lager beer is In
toHcang and the OF vast increase In drunken
ness lately He said further that he believed the measure
would drive some lquordeaers out OF the liquor bust
ness and moreover the most respectable men in There
were some liquordealers In NewYork who were highly
respected The bill virtually licensed concert saloons
Ihere were not moro than Of such establishments In
'o"-ioth thtt were decently coniucteu. Any "oih"h
that entered there tho road to degradation and
rum Then 1t was said that the bill would favor and en-
courage the sale OF malt liquors Mr. Gibbons continued
am lquor dealer but tell frankly that the sale Of
Ill. r. "a aLnhxenness Hew Min ;or small
amount Of money Take the pail tenement house and
mdnigh Again say 70 you that lager beer Is the liquor ass
BIZ is in the interest of the lager beer brewers
Way a snS9 the large % e %os maker
these htns pay only small amount-slOo-ann 70 YAK e
Why gentlemen there are drug stores that sell liquor
than any retail liquor store IN II you 90 0ye
safe them This state rich TO rob men Let me
Sham drng sScSry with beer saloons
and that there viii be Increase in the sale OF liquor
Mr. Gibbons then read letter from Robert H. Mooney,
former president OF the Board Of Aldermen, IN which he
said he had been wrongly quoted in the newspapers as
fa'orng the high license BILL although he did favor any
bill that would lessen iquorselling In New-York Mr.
Gibbons then continuing his speech, said;
Gentlemen tho passing o. this bill wOula be poor
over the Proh6iiionlsts II you determined TO
pas s easn5s yo should put me ng h,d i he lower
than $500 That would be fair rate for the liquor
Ex-Asscmbyman James oliver SAID that he had his
way he would make all persons who had adcsrc for liquor
drink beer alone That would much lessen the evil effects
OF liquor drinking. Mr.. Oliver then argued that the bill
was unconstitutional In It's present shape It discrimi
mated against NewYor and Brooklyn. The holders of the
beer licenses under highlicense law would not limit
themselves 10 selling beer alone, but would sell other
liquor we'll secretly
SIR. Brundage chairman Of the committee Have not
the Excise Commissioners Of NewYork raised the license
Mr. Olivcr-Ycs they have and will acknowledge to
that they would not have done except Or inc intro
ducton and excitement over this bill i.
Mr. Crosby-Is there ANYTHING TO prevent inc Board OF
Excise from resembling their Increase OF the Incense ices
Mr.. Oliycr-Yes there is-pOitical damnatlon lTleat
laughter -, ,,u..
dealers not laughing. By single resolution oi the
Board OF Excise Of Newlork they VIII be forced 10 pay
Sl.oOOOOo into the treasury OF the city OF New loIA
That million dollars added 10 the high rents imposes ire
mendous burdens the hquordeaers OF New YORK II
this bill il passed You put big premium on VIOLATION o
the excise laws.
John " stearns. OF Brooklyn. member OF the Good
Tempars and tho National Temperance Society SAID
ave regard this bill IN the interest OF the beer brew
ors The States In the West that have passed the high
license lays have found that they could permit beer
licenses sold price than those for the sale OF
alcoholic beyeyages" Mrs. Mary A. Woodbridge opposed
the bill on the ground that 1t would give protection 70
lquor-dealcrs. Highicense legislation, she said had
everywhere been failure. The Rev stephen herf"'
said:
find myself strange POSITION namely In apparent ALT
ance with iquordoaers. ,....
%s f.,
SpPo'ed lsSsa'HE ISSaor i,ellnft 1 aaa
License il you your.efa paaker OF the sin But you
ay that you get large amount OF money from ines
the smallpox through and then collecting money to
sp I'M let the State take the thirty pieces
Of silver and then cruelty the state
Frederick A. Wheeler said
We are opposed this bill because hrsi II 10 morally
secondly because II s not efficient one IL Il true
law has reduced The number OF Saloon, III
amount guor drinking That Is the point When On see
increased papersm be sure that there has been n
Increase OF liquor drinking Thirdly we are opposed 10 me
Indefinitely pospones the adoption or prom
cndment Lastly let mo say that e ffono
are opposed 10 BILL and Will oppose IL hrs
Last and all tho time.
John ODonnel, Railroad Commissioner, said that In
his opnion local option the best method OF checking
louor selling II could be applied to all the cities OF the
state except New-York and Brooklyn Assembyman
John l. Platt agreed with Mr. ODonnell-"Local option
and a State tax on liquor selling
Robert Graham OF the Church Temperance Society In
defence OF the bill said all that claimed for 1t
was that 10 was practical measure was plain that II
hurt the liquor because they had sent men to Al
bany to oppose IT, The alcoholic liquor license was In
creased TO 81 900 because IL believed that such
license would reduce the number OF such liquor stores
from 700 To 200 The bill increased the beer license
parity between and the alcoholic licenses Dut
mi, could remedcd The license fees OF the whole
sale groceries and the large drug stores were also Pooa
bly, too little. ,,,..-.., ,..ooto
The committee OF the Brewers and MaltSers Associa
ton said they would file brief against the Dill lhey
clearly had not made their minds to oppose the meas
re with any earnestness The Excise COMMITTEE resolved
that would hear further argument on the OIL heAt
Tuesday in the Assembly Chamber
HILL, SOl'IPE AND TAMMANY HALL